Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen MBE was born 27 June 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa of an English mother and a South African father
is one of the most exciting batsmen in World Cricket and he plays his test cricket for England!!!! Which is great isn't it?
He's bats right-handed batsman and is capable of the most audacious stroke play that can turn a match
on it's head in the space of a few overs.
As of the end of the 2006 season, his ODI average for England alone was 59.30.
Origins
Pietersen made his first-class debut for Natal's B team in 1997/98 and continued with the newly-renamed
KwaZulu-Natal side for the next two South African seasons. He might have stayed but a lack of
opportunities in his homeland, caused in part by the country's racial quota system, caused him
frustration and he moved to England to pursue his career.
He played cricket for Cannock CC as their overseas player helping them win the Birmingham Cricket League
before being signing to play for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for the 2001 season.
Pietersen moved on from Nottinghamshire after the 2004 English Cricket season, to join Hampshire County Cricket Club under the captaincy of Shane Warne.
International Cricket
Pietersen was selected for the full England one-day side for the controversial tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2004/05.
He played in three of the four one day games in Zimbabwe, scoring 47, 77 and 0 in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th one dayers
as England won the series 4-0.
Pietersen facing a hostile crowd (because of his apparent switch of allegiance to England from his South African birthplace) made a 96-ball 108 in the second
ODI at Bloemfontein, celebrating reaching three figures by kissing the badge on his helmet provocatively to wind up those who had booed his performance.
He made 75 at Cape Town, then at East London Pietersen made an unbeaten 100 from just 69 balls, the fastest century by an England player
in a one day match, it wasn't quite enough; England lost by eight runs.
The final game at Centurion Park was another losing cause, with Pietersen coming to
the wicket at 32/3 and ending with 116 from ten fours and six sixes.
Pietersen ended the series with 454 runs in five innings (England losing the series 4-1).
Speculation over Pietersen's selection in the England Test team was ended in July 2005 with the
announcement by the England chairman of selectors David Graveney
that Pietersen had been selected as replacement for veteran Graham Thorpe.
In the first Test of the Ashes at Lord's, Pietersen scored 57 in his first innings
in Test cricket and 64 not out in his second as England collapsed to a heavy defeat,
he become only the 4th player to top score in both innings on debut for England.
In the second Test at Edgbaston he scored 71 in the first innings and 20 in the second,
with England narrowly winning. In the drawn 3rd Test, Pietersen struggled with 21 and 0,
then scored 45 and 23 in the fourth as England went 2-1 up.
Some pundits including ex-players even began to question whether Pietersen
had the patience and the mettle for Test cricket!
But in the second innings of fifth and final Test of the Ashes at The Oval on 12 September, Pietersen,
with the stakes at their highest (England would regain the Ashes for the first time in 16 years if they could bat the day out)
Pietersen scored his maiden Test century with 158, securing the match and the series for England.
His innings included seven sixes - a record for an English player in an Ashes innings.
Pietersen was named man of the match for his efforts, and finished the series with the most
runs by a batsman at 473 runs over the 5 Tests, an average of 52.55.
England Burnt Out Down Under: Ashes 2006/7
England lost 5-0, that's all I m going to say about that although Pietersen was again England's best batsman.
England Washed Up in Caribbean World Cup 2007
As Above
England V West Indies 2007
1st Test, Lord's
England 1st Innings 553 for 5 (142.0 overs) (KP 26) 2nd Innings 284 for 8 (66.5 overs) (KP 109)
Drew With West Indies 1st Innings 437 all out (116.1 overs) 437 all out (116.1 overs) 2nd Innings
89 for 0 (22.0 overs)
2nd Test, Headingley
Pietersen hit a personal best of 226 as England made 570-7 declared and then bowled the West Indies out for just 146.
Cricket Search
Vaidisova
Fabregas
dementieva.co.uk
doctorwhogames.co.uk
